Sir Mo Farah is on for a double hat-trick of Great North Run wins - but he faces stiff competition this Sunday.

The Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion is looking to defend his Great North Run crown, and build upon his five consecutive victories in the race from Newcastle to South Shields.

The 37-year-old king of Tyneside roads has finished first on every Great North Run since 2014.

But there are challengers waiting in the wings, including fellow GB athlete Callum Hawkins. The Scot, 27, finished as the second Briton when he last attempted the Great North Run in 2015.

Callum Hawkins (Image: Getty Images)

Ethiopian Tamarit Tola will be looking to win the race on Sunday. The 28-year-old's half marathon personal best is just 15 seconds slower than Farah's 59.22 time.

Sir Mo Farah (centre) celebrates winning the Men's Elite Race alongside side Second placed Jake Robertson (left) and third placed Bashir Abdi during the 2018 Simply Health Great North Run (Image: PA)

Farah's training partner, Somali-Belgian Bashir Abdi, will be hoping to better the third place he achieved in last year's Great North Run. Abdi is expected to be hot on Farah's heels on Sunday.

Other GB athletes include Derek Hawkins, older brother of Callum, who has endured an injury-hit three years since representing Team GB at the Olympic marathon in Rio in 2016. Daniel Studley, Nick McCormick, Mohamed Mohamed, Adam Clark and Alex Bampton will all be in contention.

Mary Keitany wins the in the Women's Elite Race of the Great North Run (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

In the women’s race, Mary Keitany will bid to win her fourth Great North Run since 2014 when she lines up on Sunday. The Kenyan took first place in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and will be favourite to repeat her victory.

Compatriot Brigid Kosgei, who finished second to Vivian Cheruiyot last year, returns to Tyneside to compete. Kosgei’s recent form is impressive, having won London Marathon in April and taking victory in last year’s Chicago Marathon.

Brigid Kosgei of Kenya crosses the line to win the Women's Elite race during the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon (Image: Getty Images)

Magdalene Masai last competed at Simplyhealth Great North Run in 2017 when she finished fourth. The Kenyan will be expected to push Keitany and Kosgei to complete a Kenyan 1-2-3.

British pair Charlotte Purdue and Steph Twell will count on the home support in the half marathon. The Aldershot, Farnham and District duo are in decent form at present, but will be challenged by Hayley Carruthers in what will be a fierce battle for domestic honours.

In the wheelchair races, David Weir and Martyna Snopek both seek to replicate their 2018 wins on Tyneside. Both members of Weir’s Weir Archer Academy, the pair eased to victory in their respective classes last year but both will find competition in the shape of Simon Lawson and Johnboy Smith in the men’s race, while perennial challenger Shelly Woods will take on Snopek in the women’s race.